India poised to take global leadership role under Modi: Rijiju

Washington: India is poised to take global leadership role under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

"India is poised to take a global leadership role under Prime Minister Modi," he said.

Rijiju, who is here to attend a World Bank meeting on disaster management, made the remarks at a public reception hosted in his honor by the Overseas Friends of BJP-USA.

He appreciated the role played by the Indian-American community in the historic victory of the BJP in the general elections early this year.

Noting that India lost its position of a global leader in the past several centuries, he said: "We are bound to reclaim that."

Rijiju, a Lok Sabha member from Arunachal Pradesh, said the governments in the past have not been able to secure the country?s border.

"India has not been very successful when it comes to defense of our border. Somehow, we are not able to secure our border," he said.

He said the new BJP-led government is taking steps for the massive development of the border areas with particular emphasis on infrastructure sector and secure the border as well. "A proud nation must be able to protect every inch of its country," he added.